A teenage defendant charged in a 17-count theft indictment pleaded guilty Monday to three felonies before Logan County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark S. O’Connor.

DAVIDSON

OAKLEY

Keenan Davidson, 18, of Xenia, pleaded guilty to two counts of complicity to grand theft, fourth-degree felonies, and theft, a fifth-degree felony.

The teen was among three defendants who participated in a crime spree late June 25 and into June 26 that began in Bellefontaine, continued into DeGraff and concluded in Xenia. Along the way, suspects stole two cars and broke into about a dozen other vehicles, taking numerous items including credit cards and at least one firearm, Logan County Prosecutor William T. Goslee said.

The defendant in this case, was with his co-defendants, Justin Noble and Tyler Oakley, in a residence on Pratt Street when they decided to steal a car and go “car hopping,” Mr. Goslee said.

The trio moved to Heritage Court where they identified a Chevy Tahoe with keys in the ignition. It was Mr. Oakley who stole the pickup and drove the other two suspects to DeGraff. There, they drove recklessly around the park until the stolen vehicle was crashed into batting cages near the ball fields. The suspects decided to stash the wrecked, stolen vehicle in the woods and walk into the village to break into automobiles.

They primarily sought out vehicles with unlocked doors, Mr. Goslee said, but they also broke out glass in multiple cars to get inside. The suspects fanned out along several streets and whistled at one another to communicate.

They stole whatever they could, including credit cards, cash, cigarettes, pocket change and at least one rifle from the trunk of a car.

At some point, the suspects thought someone was onto them and stole a Honda Pilot, Mr. Goslee said, and drove to Xenia where they left the second stolen vehicle in an abandoned parking lot about 6 a.m., June 26.

Mr. Davidson will be sentenced Nov. 12.

Mr. Oakley, 18, was sentenced Sept. 23 to 4 1/2 years in prison for his role in the crimes. He was originally charged with 21 counts that included eight felonies and 13 misdemeanor thefts.

The case against Mr. Noble, 19, is pending. He is currently lodged in the Greene County Jail on a warrant there. He is charged with 19 counts, including six felonies.

Man gets local jail for escape

GARMAN

A defendant who compounded his drunk driving arrest with a felony escape from law enforcement was sentenced to local jail Monday.

Anthony Garman, 22, of Bellefontaine, was sentenced to 30 days in Logan County Jail, five years’ community control and ordered to pay a $250 fine, court costs and attorney fees for escape, a fifth-degree felony.

Troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped the defendant for suspected drunk driving in February. After he failed field sobriety tests and was about to be arrested, he began struggling with the trooper.

The defendant knocked the trooper to the ground, spraining his wrist, according to court documents. With the trooper on the ground, hurt, Mr. Garman took off. He evaded Bellefontaine police and Logan County Sheriff’s deputies for about an hour until he was spotted northbound on Main Street and was eventually taken into custody in the 100 block of west Auburn Avenue.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Eric Stewart said the Ohio State Highway Patrol reached out to the prosecutor’s office to convey how “very upset they were with the defendant’s actions.”

Rightfully so, Judge O’Connor said.

“(The trooper) is just out there trying to do his job and protect the citizens and by your actions you made his job harder,” the judge said.

Credited with eight days credit, the defendant has 22 days yet to do.

He was granted a furlough and instructed to report Friday to jail.

Womans admits to defrauding DJFS

Nicole West, 25, of Russells Point, pleaded guilty to theft, a first-degree misdemeanor. She defrauded Logan County Job and Family Services about $5,000 between January and September 2011.

In applications for food and medical assistance filed in December 2010, the defendant indicated she had two children in her home. It was later discovered those children were living in foster care and not in her residence.

The defendant received overpayments in the amount of $1,458 for medical assistance and $3,101 for food, prosecutors said.